The SmarK Rant for WWE Hidden Gems – 10.12.18
OK, quite the potpourri for you this week. We’ve got a match missed in the shooters collection last week, four new drops featuring Latino stars, and a bonus match. Pitter patter, let’s get at ‘er.
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–10.12.18
The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – 10.09.18
As promised, we’ve got some SHOOTER themed Hidden Gems this week, although I’m not really sure what the tie-in would be. Dean Malenko’s birthday? Who knows. And of course, a special bonus at the end that people have been bugging me for.
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–10.09.18
The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – 09.27.18
Well, as they build to Pobody’s Nerfect in Australia, this week’s batch of gems focuses on rare matches between HHH and Undertaker. So that’s pretty straight-forward.
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–09.27.18
The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – 09.20.18
Back to the actual “hidden gem” theme this week after a couple of weeks of weak Mae Young Classic-related matches. This week’s theme: Hispanic heritage!
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–09.20.18
The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – 09.13.18
It’s more females featured this week, although the content dump is once again pretty thin so I’ll have to supplement with something else. We’ll see what we can find!
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–09.13.18
The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – 09.07.18
A pretty quick batch of new stuff this week, with a Mae Young Classic theme for a couple of the matches. So pitter patter, let’s get at ‘er!
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–09.07.18
The SmarK Rant for WWF Capital Carnage 98 – 12.06.98
Hi Scott,
I’ve been enjoying your Heat & Raw rants for 1998. The next wrestling show chronologically is the UK PPV Capital Carnage. I know you tend not to review the UK PPVs, but can you please make an exception for this one? It will give you more material than you know what to do with.
I thought I had this one done back in the day, but I guess not. This was a Sky-exclusive PPV that I don’t remember hearing anything about but I do recall the VHS release and I had a copy and probably watched it at the time and then forgot about it. But hey, it’s on the Network, so let’s give it a look.
The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Old School – MSG 04.22.91
Taped from Madison Square Garden
Your hosts are Gorilla, Bobby and Anvil, who is dressed like he’s going to a Fresh Prince cosplay convention.
The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Old School – MSG 04.06.81
Oh hey, I just did the Bruno v. Hansen cage match show from 1976 last week, so let’s jump ahead five years to Hansen challenging another World champion in another cage match!
Live from Madison Square Garden
Your host is Vincent Kennedy McMahon
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Old School–MSG 04.06.81
The SmarK Rant for Madison Square Garden – 08.07.76
Hey, why not. Bruno v. Stan Hansen in a cage match as the main event seems like a good bet.
Taped from MSG
Your host is Vince McMahon
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Old School: MSG 08.07.76
The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – 08.16.18
This week’s theme is “Summerslam 2018 main eventers”, so we get unseen matches from Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, AJ Styles and Samoa Joe! Pitter patter, let’s get at ‘er.
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–08.16.18
WWE 205 Live
14th August 2018
Greenville, South Carolina
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson
We’re only 4 days out from SummerSlam, grapple fans, as things are heating up in the WWE Universe! While this weekend will see Cedric Alexander defend his Cruiserweight Championship against Drew Gulak on the pre-show in Brooklyn, there’s no shortage of action on this week’s 205 broadcast. Akira Tozawa and Lio Rush will collide again following the latter’s win last month, whilst Cedric clashes with ‘Gentleman’ Jack Gallagher, with Gulak and The Brian Kendrick barred from ringside. Let’s get to it!
The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – 08.11.18
Hey, it’s even MORE Hidden Gems posted to the Network this week. So let’s take a look, shall we?
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–08.11.18
WWE 205 Live
7th August 2018
Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson
Should be some hot action tonight, grapple fans, as Kalisto and Lince Dorado take on The Juice Brothers (Buddy Murphy and Tony Nese) in tag team action, whilst Mustafa Ali goes one-on-one with Hideo Itami. Also, look for possible developments in the rivalry between Cedric Alexander and Drew Gulak, as they’re set to fight for the Cruiserweight Championship in 12 days at SummerSlam. Let’s get to it!
The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – 08.01.18
Oh hey, the content dump continues! The Coliseum Video goodness continues, but for now let’s get caught up on the random Hidden Gem stuff again.
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–08.01.18
WWE 205 Live
31st July 2018
Tampa, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson
It’s a good time to follow cruiserweights, grapple fans, as Drew Gulak is now the number one contender to Cedric Alexander, Mustafa Ali and Hideo Itami have unfinished business and Lio Rush and Akira Tozawa are set to clash again. Strong characters, highly-proficient workers and well-told stories; 205 Live is a brand worth watching these days. Tonight we’ll see Cedric Alexander tussle with The Brian Kendrick and Kalisto battles Tony Nese. Let’s get to it!
WWE 205 Live
24th July 2018
Evansville, Indiana
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson
The weeks simply fly by during a hot summer, grapple fans, as here we are again with another episode of 205 Live. Should be a buzz-worthy episode this time round, as we’ve got a fatal four-way to determine a new number one contender for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship (TJP vs Ali vs Itami vs Gulak) as well as Tony Nese having another tussle with Kalisto, this time with Buddy Murphy, Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado barred from ringside. Let’s get to it!
WWE 205 Live
17th July 2018
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson
Tonight sees Lio Rush’s first main event on 205 Live, grapple fans, as he tussles with Akira Tozawa. Also in action are TJ Perkins and Noam Dar in a rematch of their clash two weeks ago. Let’s get to it!
The SmarK Rant for Black Saturday (World Championship Wrestling – 07.14.84)
Man, here’s one I thought I’d never see on WWE television again. So remember how Vince walked out on WCW Monday Nitro in March of 2001 and everyone was like “Holy crap, there’s something that’s never happened before!” Well, not quite. For you see, 1984 saw Vince gobbling up all the territories and TV deals he could get his hands on, and one of the major ones was Georgia Championship Wrestling, which resided in the timeslot that eventually became WCW. And so, with no warning to viewers at home who were tuning in for their weekly dose of Gordon Solie and the stars of the NWA, this is what they got instead…
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network HIdden Gems–”Black Saturday”
WWE 205 Live
10th July 2018
Manchester, New Hampshire
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson
We’re one week removed from the greatest match in 205 Live history, grapple fans. In last week’s broadcast, Mustafa Ali bested Buddy Murphy in an incredible no-disqualification match; a contest so intense, in fact, that one wonders why it wasn’t saved for the upcoming Extreme Rules pay-per-view. This week sees Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander defend the strap against Hideo Itami. Let’s get to it!
WWE 205 Live
3rd July 2018
Omaha, Nebraska
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson
Another night of cruiserweight action is upon us, grapple fans. Big main event this week as Mustafa Ali and Buddy Murphy tussle in a no-disqualification match. TJ Perkins will also be in action, taking on “an opponent of Drake Maverick’s choosing”. Well, you can certainly cut the anticipation in my lounge with a knife. Let’s get to it! Oh, and before I forget, I hope all my American readers have a happy Independence Day!
WWE 205 Live
26th June 2018
Ontario, California
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson
Good grief, grapple fans; Drake Maverick opens the show by telling us that tonight is all about OPPORTUNITY. He’s certainly been drinking his WWE Corporate Kool Aid. Tonight should certainly be interesting as we’ve got one half of The Juice Brothers, Tony Nese, going one-on-one with Akira Tozawa, Lio Rush debuts (likely in a squash match) and The Lucha House Party clash with Drew Gulak, ‘Gentleman’ Jack Gallagher and The Brian Kendrick in six-man elimination action. Let’s get to it!
The SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems – 06.20.18
Yay! More Hidden Gems on the Network!
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWE Network Hidden Gems–06.20.18
Money in the Bank 2018
Date: June 17, 2018
Location: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Tom Phillips, Jonathan Coachman, Byron Saxton
It’s finally time to get to what WWE seems to think is the most important show of the year, at least based on how much they promote it. Tonight we find out who might be cashing in to get a cheap World Title reign at any point in the next year. Other than that we have AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura V in a Last Man Standing match. Let’s get to it.
WWE 205 Live
12th June 2018
Memphis, Tennessee
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness and Percy Watson
Good day, grapple fans! We start with highlights of last week’s main event where Hideo Itami ran in to cause a DQ finish, before accosting Mustafa Ali and Buddy Murphy. Drake Maverick tells us that, as a result of his reprehensible actions, Itami is banned from appearing on this week’s show. Tonight, we’ve got six-man tag action as the Lucha House Party clash with Drew Gulak, ‘Gentleman’ Jack Gallagher and The Brian Kendrick, while Mustafa Ali is back in action against Tony Nese. Let’s get to it!